It's official. Brie loves jumping.
She does tend to veer off to one side when she lands, but we'll work on that.
Still bribing her to get out of the stall. I bribed her with an apple today! So not good, I wish I had time to watch the Parelli DVDs we paid for and never got around to watching. Maybe I'll bring them with me to my dorm next week, to see how this week goes so far.
Nina likes to jump too! She went by the jump after I stopped, and, with my brother on her, she jumped right over it. Without warning, so that may have been a little bad, but Anthony stayed on so it's all good.
We also put poles on the ground for Brie and Nina to walk over to teach them how to be aware of how high and where they're stepping. I think Nina needed it, because she kept knocking into them for a good few tries, then got the hang of it.
That's what people in our stables need to do. Just have fun with their horses, and enjoy themselves. Not constantly be trying to fix this and that about their horse's gait and make them absolute perfection. Maybe that's why we didn't win anything at Nationals, we probably wore them out for the months beforehand.
Well Andre is stuck in Georgia. The truck broke down and the horses are being kept in a stable down there. I feel so bad for them! Paco is supposed to be coming up with Andre too, so now he's stranded as well.
What I'm looking forward to most is Dominic coming again in October for a weekend. Can't wait to see what he has to say about Brie's progress!
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Day 15 & Nationals Comments
I didn't make it down to Nationals. =[ The flights coming home weren't looking so good, so we decided not to risk being stranded in Georgia. We did watch the ending of Nationals on Galopando TV though, which is the stream-network for all things Paso Fino. I feel like I'll get my commentary on Nationals out of the way right now.
I was amused by the largo race, but disappointed at the same time that there were only three entries. Come on people, lighten up and have some fun with your horses! Don't just work them all the time! Secondly, I was SO MAD when I saw the costume class! Backstory, I qualified on Brie to go to Nationals this year and last year for costume class but we figured it was too long of a ride to bring here there for just one class. This is what my costume looks like.
Well, I don't have a screenshot of it, but there was a girl in the costume class who had pretty much the EXACT same dress, the same black horse, the same roses, same ribbons, same veil, but this is the killer part: She had the same speech as me. How low can you get? Thankfully she was punished (by karma) for the copycat-ism and received 5th place out of 5.
Lastly, I'd like to congratulate the Fino Stallion Champion, Halago! He is truly amazing. If the clip isn't on Galopando TV, then I'm sure if you're really curious and search it on YouTube you'll find it. Maybe I'll even link these two classes tomorrow or something for you to watch.
Went to the stables today. Instead of doing the same old routine, I decided today would be a great day to teach Brie a little bit about jumping (and learn myself, with help from mi madre). At first she was kind of freaking out that the jump was made up of a 2x4 and plastic traffic cones, but then she got used to it and then she loved it! She kept going around and jump jump jumping! We both enjoyed it, and I love that she's getting used to doing all sorts of different things now.
I switched Brie for Nina with my mom and we rode outside. Nina is too funny, she has a shorter stride than Brie, so Brie covers ground faster and gets farther ahead. When Brie gets too far ahead of Nina, you just tell Nina, "Come on Nina, go get Brie!" without any other signal and she takes off at a cute little carousel pony gallop to catch up to Brie. It's adorable! I'm teaching Nina, too, how to jump outside, over little ditches, and she's kind of hesitant. Knowing this, I didn't think that she'd want to jump up and over a fairly steep little hill, but she did! I wasn't prepared for this and almost flew out of the saddle but caught it before I fell backwards over her butt. It was scary and fun at the same time. I'm also proud of Brie, she's getting more calmed down outside.
I still have my problem of trying to get Brie to come out of the stall by me. I haven't gotten around to watching Parelli to see if he has any suggestions for this, so in the meantime, if anyone has suggestions other than bribing her with carrots, please tell me!
P.S., I don't think I mentioned it before, but the two horses in the header are Brie and Nina! Brie's the black one, Nina's the brown one.
I was amused by the largo race, but disappointed at the same time that there were only three entries. Come on people, lighten up and have some fun with your horses! Don't just work them all the time! Secondly, I was SO MAD when I saw the costume class! Backstory, I qualified on Brie to go to Nationals this year and last year for costume class but we figured it was too long of a ride to bring here there for just one class. This is what my costume looks like.
Well, I don't have a screenshot of it, but there was a girl in the costume class who had pretty much the EXACT same dress, the same black horse, the same roses, same ribbons, same veil, but this is the killer part: She had the same speech as me. How low can you get? Thankfully she was punished (by karma) for the copycat-ism and received 5th place out of 5.Lastly, I'd like to congratulate the Fino Stallion Champion, Halago! He is truly amazing. If the clip isn't on Galopando TV, then I'm sure if you're really curious and search it on YouTube you'll find it. Maybe I'll even link these two classes tomorrow or something for you to watch.
Went to the stables today. Instead of doing the same old routine, I decided today would be a great day to teach Brie a little bit about jumping (and learn myself, with help from mi madre). At first she was kind of freaking out that the jump was made up of a 2x4 and plastic traffic cones, but then she got used to it and then she loved it! She kept going around and jump jump jumping! We both enjoyed it, and I love that she's getting used to doing all sorts of different things now.
I switched Brie for Nina with my mom and we rode outside. Nina is too funny, she has a shorter stride than Brie, so Brie covers ground faster and gets farther ahead. When Brie gets too far ahead of Nina, you just tell Nina, "Come on Nina, go get Brie!" without any other signal and she takes off at a cute little carousel pony gallop to catch up to Brie. It's adorable! I'm teaching Nina, too, how to jump outside, over little ditches, and she's kind of hesitant. Knowing this, I didn't think that she'd want to jump up and over a fairly steep little hill, but she did! I wasn't prepared for this and almost flew out of the saddle but caught it before I fell backwards over her butt. It was scary and fun at the same time. I'm also proud of Brie, she's getting more calmed down outside.
I still have my problem of trying to get Brie to come out of the stall by me. I haven't gotten around to watching Parelli to see if he has any suggestions for this, so in the meantime, if anyone has suggestions other than bribing her with carrots, please tell me!
P.S., I don't think I mentioned it before, but the two horses in the header are Brie and Nina! Brie's the black one, Nina's the brown one.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Days 13 & 14
Day 13
Yay! I got to go home and see Brie and Nina!
I figured why stay at school if nothing's going on? So I went home.
Well. For the past couple weeks it's been really hard to get Brie out of the stall. I go by the door with the halter and she runs into the corner. Now I know that you're not supposed to barge on in there and get the horse, but I already stood/sat there for over an hour once and I'm not about to do that again. She didn't even come out when I did that! So I need to find a way that doesn't involve bribing her with food, to get her to come by the door and put the halter on.
Other than that, today was the best day I've had with her so far! She's learning how to canter on command. She's still a little mixed up between gaiting and cantering, but she'll get it. She goes so fast! It's indescribable! The only thing I can think of to explain it is it's like I'm flying, it's incredible.
And that's not even galloping!
After that adrenaline rush, I switched with my mom and rode outside with Nina. Very relaxing. Brie got too far ahead and Nina broke into her tiny canter to catch up. It was adorable! My mom and I had a race. Nina had no chance! Her canter is so short while Brie's is so extended. It was very amusing though =]
This was such a good day. I didn't realize how being around them makes me so calm. It was the perfect remedy to an overly stressful week.
Now to do it again tomorrow!
Day 14
So I was too exhausted to remember to post yesterday so I combined it with today.
First off I want to talk about Nina. She too has been having trouble with putting the halter on. While I was watching Cesar Milan on Friday night, he did this trick where you massage the animal to make it calm and then pet it once it's calmed down. Easiest thing ever and I never thought of it! So I walked in Nina's stall and did this to her and she was better putting the halter on. Today she only tossed her head once before she lowered it to put the halter on. Progress!
Also Brie is getting better at cantering. It's more me getting scared of falling off. But we walked outside and Brie was pretty calm. I was so proud of her! She too is making progress. And with all this progress made it makes me even more satisfied that I went home this weekend.
Now next weekend I'm going to the Nationals as a spectator. Now THAT should be an interesting weekend. I'm sure I'll have much to say about it. Until then, keep riding!
Yay! I got to go home and see Brie and Nina!
I figured why stay at school if nothing's going on? So I went home.
Well. For the past couple weeks it's been really hard to get Brie out of the stall. I go by the door with the halter and she runs into the corner. Now I know that you're not supposed to barge on in there and get the horse, but I already stood/sat there for over an hour once and I'm not about to do that again. She didn't even come out when I did that! So I need to find a way that doesn't involve bribing her with food, to get her to come by the door and put the halter on.
Other than that, today was the best day I've had with her so far! She's learning how to canter on command. She's still a little mixed up between gaiting and cantering, but she'll get it. She goes so fast! It's indescribable! The only thing I can think of to explain it is it's like I'm flying, it's incredible.
And that's not even galloping!
After that adrenaline rush, I switched with my mom and rode outside with Nina. Very relaxing. Brie got too far ahead and Nina broke into her tiny canter to catch up. It was adorable! My mom and I had a race. Nina had no chance! Her canter is so short while Brie's is so extended. It was very amusing though =]
This was such a good day. I didn't realize how being around them makes me so calm. It was the perfect remedy to an overly stressful week.
Now to do it again tomorrow!
Day 14
So I was too exhausted to remember to post yesterday so I combined it with today.
First off I want to talk about Nina. She too has been having trouble with putting the halter on. While I was watching Cesar Milan on Friday night, he did this trick where you massage the animal to make it calm and then pet it once it's calmed down. Easiest thing ever and I never thought of it! So I walked in Nina's stall and did this to her and she was better putting the halter on. Today she only tossed her head once before she lowered it to put the halter on. Progress!
Also Brie is getting better at cantering. It's more me getting scared of falling off. But we walked outside and Brie was pretty calm. I was so proud of her! She too is making progress. And with all this progress made it makes me even more satisfied that I went home this weekend.
Now next weekend I'm going to the Nationals as a spectator. Now THAT should be an interesting weekend. I'm sure I'll have much to say about it. Until then, keep riding!
Monday, September 14, 2009
Days 11 & 12
Didn't get the chance to write this weekend due to personal issues. But here we go.
Day 11
Brie was really good today =] I got to ride her outside, and she didn't really like the outdoor arena, mainly because of the disassembled round pen in there. But I got her to calm down over it and we walked around out back. I'm teaching her to canter the right way outside and I think that she's getting the hang of it. I rode Nina outside. She is such the perfect trail horse, I love her to death. Brie is my stunning beauty of a horse while Nina is the lovable cuddly horse that you just want to hug to death. Don't get me wrong, Nina's beautiful too. It's just something about a black horse that's so breathtaking. And Brie's cuddly too, on occasion. But you get my point.
Oh and Taco? That horse that I was training before? I forgot to mention, Jane took him out of there for this month to just laze around in the pasture at her relative's farm.
Day 12
Brie was a bit more crazy today. Once again we rode outside in the arena and she was a bit more nervous. After a long while I got her to calm down, then we rode out back again. Continued teaching her to canter, but on my way into the stable my mom was coming out with Nina so we walked around the back together. I showed her how I'm teaching Brie to canter and I admit, I'm kind of scared because she goes so fast! I think that once I'm more confident about what my knee can hold up to I'll be more relaxed with teaching Brie to canter. We had more troubles outside. Brie kept freezing like in the show arena. I bought a crop but I forgot it inside. So I just tried to deal with her and I think I did so effectively.
Now I won't be writing for a while. I'm going to school and I don't know how often I can go see my two babies. I'm going to miss them so much, it makes me so sad.
But I might have a post in a week. I don't know if I'll be able to make it to Nationals next weekend, but I really hope I can. I'm sure I'll have something to say about the show. As a matter of fact, I do right now! How is it fair that once you earn 20 points you can waltz on into Nationals? You can earn 20 points with two blue ribbons, probably in one weekend show! I believe that this standard should be raised. And another thing I'm miffed about. I emailed the director of the editorials of the PFHA magazine and she never got back to me. I guess I'll keep spamming her inbox then.
Until the next post, wish me luck at school!
Day 11
Brie was really good today =] I got to ride her outside, and she didn't really like the outdoor arena, mainly because of the disassembled round pen in there. But I got her to calm down over it and we walked around out back. I'm teaching her to canter the right way outside and I think that she's getting the hang of it. I rode Nina outside. She is such the perfect trail horse, I love her to death. Brie is my stunning beauty of a horse while Nina is the lovable cuddly horse that you just want to hug to death. Don't get me wrong, Nina's beautiful too. It's just something about a black horse that's so breathtaking. And Brie's cuddly too, on occasion. But you get my point.
Oh and Taco? That horse that I was training before? I forgot to mention, Jane took him out of there for this month to just laze around in the pasture at her relative's farm.
Day 12
Brie was a bit more crazy today. Once again we rode outside in the arena and she was a bit more nervous. After a long while I got her to calm down, then we rode out back again. Continued teaching her to canter, but on my way into the stable my mom was coming out with Nina so we walked around the back together. I showed her how I'm teaching Brie to canter and I admit, I'm kind of scared because she goes so fast! I think that once I'm more confident about what my knee can hold up to I'll be more relaxed with teaching Brie to canter. We had more troubles outside. Brie kept freezing like in the show arena. I bought a crop but I forgot it inside. So I just tried to deal with her and I think I did so effectively.
Now I won't be writing for a while. I'm going to school and I don't know how often I can go see my two babies. I'm going to miss them so much, it makes me so sad.
But I might have a post in a week. I don't know if I'll be able to make it to Nationals next weekend, but I really hope I can. I'm sure I'll have something to say about the show. As a matter of fact, I do right now! How is it fair that once you earn 20 points you can waltz on into Nationals? You can earn 20 points with two blue ribbons, probably in one weekend show! I believe that this standard should be raised. And another thing I'm miffed about. I emailed the director of the editorials of the PFHA magazine and she never got back to me. I guess I'll keep spamming her inbox then.
Until the next post, wish me luck at school!
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Day 10
I didn't get to write yesterday and didn't make it out today so this post is for yesterday.
We hired a new farrier and she came out yesterday to do Brie and Nina's hooves. We hired a new farrier because our old one was never calling us back to set up an appointment and Brie desperately needed her hooves done. We're really pleased with how he hooves came out, they look the closest to perfection in all the time we've had her. Says something about the farriers around here, huh?
I also got to ride Nina yesterday! We rode with my mom and Brie in the fields behind the stable. Nina's such a goofball, she is the perfect trail horse. She moseys along. And then I let her do what she wanted to and she ran in circles in the field =] she was so happy. She's the mellow balance to Brie's anxiety. That's what we all need, someone to balance out our emotions.
We hired a new farrier and she came out yesterday to do Brie and Nina's hooves. We hired a new farrier because our old one was never calling us back to set up an appointment and Brie desperately needed her hooves done. We're really pleased with how he hooves came out, they look the closest to perfection in all the time we've had her. Says something about the farriers around here, huh?
I also got to ride Nina yesterday! We rode with my mom and Brie in the fields behind the stable. Nina's such a goofball, she is the perfect trail horse. She moseys along. And then I let her do what she wanted to and she ran in circles in the field =] she was so happy. She's the mellow balance to Brie's anxiety. That's what we all need, someone to balance out our emotions.
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